The International Freepsum Guitar Festival is a project that is absolutely close to my heart. I started it in 2011 together with the team of the Kultur-Gulfhof-Freepsum and since then I have been organising it every year together with many lovely people. Over the years, a small idea has become a gem in the North German concert landscape and I am incredibly happy what an inspiring place for music lovers our little festival has become. You don’t have anything planned for the first weekend in September? Then come and visit us!
The festival has developed steadily since its start in 2011, the concert programme has been complemented by workshops and an open stage and spread over two days. The festival starts on Friday evening with three concerts by protagonists from different genres. On Saturday, the programme begins at noon with guitar workshops for beginners and advanced players. In the afternoon, the Open Stage will take place, followed by three concerts in the evening. An exhibition of exquisite luthiers rounds off the programme.
Together with Philipp Wiechert I form the artistic direction of the festival since 2012.
For the past 12 years we have brought some of our favourite artists from all over the globe to the far reaches of Northwest Germany, including Petteri Sariola (FI), Brooks Robertson (USA), Jaimi Faulkner (AUS), Trevor Gordon Hall (USA), John Smith (UK), Will McNicol (UK), Okapi (JP), Claire Besson (FRA), Christian Buchmann (D), Erkin Cavus (TUR), Reentko Dirks (D), Emil Ernebro (SWE), Bjarke Falgren (DK), Shane Hennessy (IRE), David Lindorfer (AUT), Jule Malischke (D) and many more.
The annual festival takes place on the first weekend in September in the beautifully restored “Kultur-Gulfhof” in Freepsum, a tiny East Frisian village near Emden. You can find more information, the link to the tickets and everything else you need to know on our festival website. We hope to see you soon at the International Freepsum Guitar Festival!
photos: Birgit Giering, 2019